Health

In today's times, when we are feeling sick, we go to the doctor. Usually, they are able to help us and make us feel better by providing us with medicine or other means to rid us of sickness. The hospital is another option for us. Also, doctors and scientists have created cures for a large amount of diseases and illnesses. This was not the case for early colonial Americans.

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Options----> Quality of medical care was determined by where you lived and how much money you had, like other things. Commonly, people went to housewifes, midwifes, apothecaries, physicians or surgeons. Those with lesser money were forced to go to religious based organizations. This was not the preffered choice for quality care. Therefore, home remedies were a huge part of a person's recovery. Families would pass on traditional remedies through the generations, and people really believed in their power.
Ilnesses of the 18th century include but are not limited to:
...dysentery, coughs, fevers, colds, agues, consumption, headaches, worms, gout, scarlet fever, smallpox, the plague and physical injuries...


The idea of germs was not realized until the 19th century. Cures for these sicknesses included natural remedies and spirtiual healing.